WORLD SOCIAL SUMMIT 2008
'WSS: Melo, in Africa fear is the terrible spectre of hunger'

"In Africa, the terrible spectre of hunger generates fear" says the Mozambican lawyer Angela Melo, during her speech on the last day of the World Social Summit organized by Fondazione Roma. "Europe solved its problems" underscores Melo "but Africa didn't. As the President of Fondazione Roma, Emanuele underscored during the opening of the convention, each period experienced a type of fear. Today, in the western world, unemployment is feared, the absence of a stable residence, nuclear apocalypse, terrorism are feared".

The lawyer then talks about globalization: "It ensured development in the western world. But in Africa some consequences may be disastrous. 80% of wealth, 60% of commerce and industrial production is divided among America, Asia and Europe. This leaves little room to the rest of the world".

In Africa hunger is still present "which leads to migrations, tremendous journeys". In some cases, according to Melo "until the doors of hell, with the consequent impoverishment of local communities. If you are poor and hungry, you cannot even enjoy fundamental rights". Talking about the concept of terrorism, Angela Melo explains that "In Africa, in the poorest areas, this does not have any meaning". A solution to fight it, says the lawyer "could be respecting the rules and human values".